The South African PSL is one of the most developed leagues on the African continent, only arguably after the Egyptian league. It has gained serious attention from the global community, and players are now well paid enough not to fight so much to join the European leagues. While players of Mamelodi Sundowns have emerged as the most paid in the league, looking at the highest-paid Orlando Pirates players, the Bucs are also not doing badly.
The highest-paid player in the country’s league, Khama Billiat, takes home an incredible R833,000, while Deon Hotto, the highest-paid Orlando Pirates player takes home R500,000 each month. Here is a look at how the club pays its top stars.
These Are The Highest Paid Orlando Pirates Players
1. Deon Hotto
- Net Worth: $500,000
- Age: 33 Years Old
- Salary/Contract: R500,000
- Playing Position: Midfielder
- Clubs Played For: Blue Boys (- 2011), African Stars (2012–2014), Golden Arrows (2014–2016), Bloemfontein Celtic (2016–2018), Bidvest Wits (2018-2020)
- Active Since (Years): 2020
Deon Hotto is a Namibian striker who has been with the Orlando Pirates since 2020 from Bidvest Wits. Before then, he has played for several other clubs, including Golden Arrows and Bloemfontein Celtic. When he joined the Pirates, he was paid R200,000 in his first season before it was pushed up to R500,000, which he currently receives, making him one of the highest-paid players in the PSL.
Topping the highest-paid Orlando Pirates players list, he has started his career with Blue Boys, playing with the club for an unspecified number of years. He then moved to the Namibian side, African Stars, and it was from there that he moved to Golden Arrows. The star also plays for the Namibian national team since 2013.
As regards his net worth, the midfielder is estimated to be worth $500,000. His career as a footballer is the main way through which he makes his money, but he also has some endorsement deals, including with brands such as Adidas South Africa and Standard Bank Namibia. Even though he is rich, Hotto is a humble individual who doesn’t show off his wealth on social media. He keeps his house private, but we know he has several cars, including a Volkswagen Polo.
2. Thulani Hlatshwayo
- Net Worth:Â $2 million
- Age: 34 Years Old
- Salary/Contract: R300,000
- Playing Position: Central Defender
- Clubs Played For: Ajax Cape Town (2009 -2014), Bidvest Wits (2014-2020)
- Active Since (Years): 2020
Thulani Hlatshwayo is one of the strongest defenders in the entire PSL, making so much sense that he is also one of the highest-paid Orlando Pirates players. He takes home a monthly fee of R300,000, a significant jump from the R150,000 he was paid while with Bidvest.
The central defender has come a long way in his career. He started his national career with the South Africa Under-17 team in 2007 and continued to grow in ranks. He made his debut for the Bafana Bafana in 2013. Thulani began his club career in 2009 with Ajax Cape Town and remained with the club until 2014. He then played for Bidvest Wits from 2014 to 2020, when he moved to Orlando Pirates. Unfortunately, full details about his contract have not been released.
The Orlando Pirates skipper has built an amazing house that features a swimming pool, an indoor gym, and a small garden. While he has not unveiled his other house features, we know it has a garage for his cars, including a Volkswagen Golf GTI and a Jeep SUV. He can fund his lifestyle thanks to his net worth, which is now estimated at  $2 million. His career remains the major source of his wealth, but Thulani Hlatshwayo also makes money from his numerous endorsement deals with Adidas South Africa and Volkswagen.
3. Richard Ofori
- Net Worth: NA
- Age: 30 Years Old
- Salary/Contract: R300,000
- Playing Position: Goalkeeper
- Clubs Played For: Legon Cities FC (2012 – 2017), Maritzburg United (2018 – 2020)
- Active Since (Years): 2020
Talented Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Ofori might have only joined the club in 2020, but that did not stop him from becoming one of the club’s highest-paid players, thanks to his experience and expertise. The club offered the former Maritzburg United shot-stopper a three-year deal in 2020.
Ofori, who is currently 30 years old, started his career in 2012 with the Ghana club Legon Cities FC, which used to be known as We Are Stars. He was with the club until 2018, when he joined Maritzburg United and remained with the club until his recent move to Orlando Pirates. He has also played at various levels for the Ghanian national team. The goalkeeper made his debut at the under-20 level in 2013 before rising in ranks to make his debut for the Black Stars in 2015.
Even with his good pay, Richard is still not among the 5 highest-paid goalies in the league at the moment. More so, having only joined the Bucs, the net worth of the experienced goalkeeper is still unknown, but it is known that he is well to do as he also cashes out from various endorsement deals he has, including with Puma. His garage features several cars, including a BMW 428i, valued at close to half a million Rand. He seems to be a German toy lover as he also has a Mercedes Benz in his garage.
4. Happy Jele
- Net Worth: NA
- Age: 37 Years Old
- Salary/Contract: R200,000 (R2.4 million)
- Playing Position:Â Defender
- Clubs Played For: Orlando Pirates
- Active Since (Years): 2006
Happy Jele is one of the few remaining veterans in the South African league. He has been in the league since 2006, when he first signed for the Pirates as a young man of 19. Since 2017, the top defender has remained as the oldest player in the team.
The club offered the South Africa-born football star who made three appearances for the Bafana Bafana since he made his debut in 2011 one-year deal in 2020, which means he would be with the club for more than 14 years. Although he has signed many contracts in the past, the recent deal took him to R200,000 each month and R2.4 million annually, making him one of the highest-paid in the club.
The previous salary of the ace defender was pegged at R160,000, which means he was taking home close to R2 million annually. At a point, he was the club’s highest-paid player. While he may be well paid, his net worth is currently still under review. However, what is known is that the Buccaneers skipper also makes money through various other means, including endorsement deals with brands such as Lexus and Adidas South Africa. Through this, he has a big house and drives some very fancy cars, including a Lexus Centurion and a BMW.
5. Fortune Makaringe
- Net Worth: $950,000
- Age: 30 Years Old
- Salary/Contract: R185,000
- Playing Position: Midfielder
- Clubs Played For: Maritzburg United (2015-2019)
- Active Since (Years): 2019
In 2019, Orlando Pirates went all out to have the signature of Fortune Makaringe on paper from Maritzburg United. The club was ready to dish out R4 million and a player in exchange for the midfielder. The deal went through, marking Thabiso Kutumela’s move to United while Fortun made his move to the Pirates. Since then, he has emerged as one of the highest-paid players in the club, taking home a massive R185,000 each month.
Fortune Makaringe was born in May 1993. He had his youth career with Moroka Swallows, and in 2015, he joined Maritzburg United, where he remained until Orlando Pirates signed him in 2019. He made his debut for Bafana Bafana in 2018.
Unconfirmed reports peg his net worth at $950,000, which he made from his career as a footballer and his different endorsement deals. The young talented midfielder has an endorsement deal with Adidas South Africa. He enjoys his wealth by spending on things he loves, including cars such as a BMW car and Mercedes Benz. The models of his cars are not known, and he has kept details of his house private.
Other Stars Who Would Have Made The List of Highest-Paid Orlando Pirates Players
Only a couple of years ago, the list of the highest-paid Orlando Pirates players included stars such as Dové Womé, who was taking home R270,000 before his move to Al-Yarmouk SC of Kuwait, and Chinonso Christian Obiozor, who was paid R170 monthly before his move to Enyimba International of Aba, in Nigeria.
There was also Justin Shonga, who was rumored to be receiving R300,000 each month before his move to Cape Town City FC in 2020. Others worth mentioning in the club include Vincent Pule, who is paid R170,000 per month, Innocent Maela, who is reported to be receiving R150,000, and then Thembinkosi Lorch, whose salary is put at R110,000 a month.
